Card table cover for canasta games



H. Fox 2,491,894

CARD TABLE ,COVER FOR CANASTA GAMES Filed Sept. 28, 1949 HT N" v I N VEN TOR. HENRY Fox Entente Dec. 20, 1949 lTED STATES PA LJ" OFFICE In this game each of the players, who usually 4 number four, lays down on the playing surface melds, canastas and the red threes (i. e. diamonds and hearts). The melds each include three or more cards of the same rank and the canastas seven or more cards of same rank. Different scores are awarded a player for the melds, the canastas and the red threes which he lays down.

It has been found that when the several players lay down their melds, canastas and red threes on the surface of a card table or the like, the cards become interrnixed, with the result that it is diicult to differentiate by eye between the canastas and the melds, or to differentiate between the laid down cards of adjacent players.

The principal object of the invention therefore, is the provision of a card table cover incorporating means whereby each players canastas, melds and red threes can be maintained in individual Visible stacks segregated one from the other, the different types of stacks being identified both by the position of the stack and by the direction in which the different retaining means hold the stacked cards i. e., with an end or a side adjacent the edge of the cover.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the cover can readily be secured to a table top, said means also permitting of the facile removal of the cover.

Still another object of the invention is to construct the cover in such a manner, and of such material as to permit of the same being folded or rolled into a small bundle.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a plan view of the cover of the invention as it appears when placed on a card table.

Fig. 2 is a view of the underside of the cover on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cover as it appears when folded, the scale of this iigure being much larger than that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cover as attached to the corner of a table top.

Referring to Fig. 1 the cover of the invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral I0, said cover being any square of any suitable cloth or plastic, but preferably of duck with a velvetlike finish on the playing surface. The corners of the cover are rounded and the edge is bound with taping I I stitched thereto as at I2. At each corner, a triangular patch I3 of the same material as the cover is bound to the playing surface of the cover by the taping II (Fig. 3), said piece forming, with the cover, a pocket or receptacle for one or more cards I4 (Fig. 1).

Arranged along each of the edges of the cover I 0 and centrally disposed with respect to the ends of the edge are a pair of strips I5 and IB superimposed the latter on the former. Both strips may be of the same material as the cover and both have one longitudinal edge bound to the playing surface of cover II] by the stripping II (Fig. 4). The lower strip I5 is wider and longer than the upper strip' and at either end is secured to the cover I0 by spot stitching I1 (Fig. l). The upper strip I E is likewise secured at either end to the lower strip by spot stitching I8. The lower strip I5 forms with the cover I U a plurality, in the present instance seven, of card pockets or receptacles by means of spot stitching 2U, said receptacles being of a size suilcient to receive a small stack of cards slipped endwise part-way therento, but too small to receive the cards sidewise. stitching 2I to form a plurality, in the present instance four, of card receptacles or pockets of a size suiiicient for a small stack of cards to be slipped part-way therein sidewise. 4

The spot stitching is also known in the trade as bar-tacks, however any other fastening means may also be used.

While playing Canasta, each player slips his red threes part-way under one of the corner pieces The upper strip I6 is divided up by spot I3, his melds each in one of the pockets in strip I5 and his canastas each in one of the pockets in strip I5. Thus, the groups of cards are completely segregated one from the other and are easily identified either by noting whichpockets they are in or by noting whether or not they are arranged in the pockets endwise or sidewise.

In order that the cover l can readily be secured to and removed from a card table top such as that illustrated fragmentarily in Fig. 7, there is secured to the cover lli near each corner by means of the taping ii an elastic band 2.3 (Figs. 3 and 5), adapted to be stretched over the corners of the edging strips 24 secured to table top 22.

When the four bands 23 are stretched over said corners, the cover is securely held in place. All that is needed to remove the cover is to pull said bands olf said corners.

One reason for constructing the cover and its appurtenances of cloth or a similar material is to permit of the same being folded into a small bundle for shipping or storage purposes, as shown in Fig. 6, which figure it will be noted is on a much larger scale than Fig. 1.

It is to be mentioned that the cover of the invention finds further utility in that it can also be used for outdoor card games of any sort with or without a table, the pockets therein being utilized to prevent wind displacement of the cards. When used outdoors, on the ground, the elastic corner bands 23 would cooperate with stakes or the like in securing the cover in place.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A game table surface cover comprising a square of cloth having secured to the converging edges thereof at each corner, a triangular patch which forms with said square a card receiving pocket, and secured to each edge thereof midway of its ends a pair of superimposed strips, the lower being of greater width than the upper and being secured at intervals to the surface of said square to form therewith a plurality of card receiving pockets, and the upper strip being secured at intervals to the lower to form therewith another plurality of card receiving pockets.

2. A game table surface cover comprising a square of cloth having secured to the converging edges thereof at each corner, a triangular patch which forms with said square a card receiving Y pocket, and-'secured to each edge thereof midway of its ends a pair of superimposed strips, the lower being of greater width than the upper and being secured at intervals to the surface of said square to form therewith a plurality of card receiving pockets, and the upper strip being secured at intervals to the lower to form therewith another plurality of card receiving pockets, the patches and strips being secured to the edges of the square by taping which also binds said edges.

3. A game table surface cover comprising a square of cloth having secured to the converging edges thereof at each corner, a triangular patch which forms with said square a card receiving pocket, and secured to each-.edge thereof midway of its ends a pair of superimposed strips, the lower being of greater width than the upper and being secured at intervals to the surface of said square to form therewith a plurality of card receiving pockets, and the upper strip being secured at intervals to the lower to form therewith another 5 plurality of card receiving pockets, the patches and strips being secured to the edges of the square by taping which also binds said edges, said taping also securing to the opposite side of said square at each corner thereof an elastic band by which the cover can be secured to a game table top.

4. A game table surface cover comprising a square of cloth having secured to the converging edges thereof at each corner a triangular patch which forms with said square a card receiving pocket, and secured to each edge thereof midway of its ends a pair of superimposed strips, the lower being of greater width than the upper and being secured at intervals to the surface of said square by spot stitching to form therewith a plurality of card receiving pockets, and the upper strip being secured at intervals to the lower by spot stitching to form therewith another plurality of card receiving pockets.

5. An outdoor card game playing surface adapted to prevent wind displacement of cards comprising a square of cloth having secured to the converging edges thereof at each corner a triangular patch which forms with said square a card receiving pocket, and secured to each edge thereof midway of its ends a pair of superimposed strips, the lower being of greater width than thc upper and being secured at intervals to the surface of said square to form therewith a plurality of card receiving pockets, and the upper strip being secured at intervals to the lower to form therewith another plurality of card receiving pockets. i

6. An outdoor card game playing surface adapted to prevent wind displacement of cards comprising a square of cloth having secured to the converging edges thereof at each corner a triangular patch which forms with said square a card receiving pocket, and secured to each edge thereof midway of its ends a pair of superimposed strips, the lower being of greater width than the upper and being secured at intervals to the surface of said square by spot stitching to form therewith a plurality of card receiving pockets, and the upper strip being secured at in- 5p tervals to the lower by spot stitching to form therewith another plurality of card receiving pockets.

'7. A card game playing surface comprising a square of cloth, a triangular patch secured to the converging edges thereof at each corner, each said patch forming with the square a card receiving pocket, and a pair of superimposed strips secured to each edge of the square medial of its ends, the lower of said strips being wider than the upper and being secured at intervals to the square by spot stitching to form with the square a plurality of pockets each of a size suiiicient to receive a small stack of cards endwise but too small to receive a stack sidewise, and said upper strip being secured at intervals to the lower by spot stitching to form a plurality of pockets of a size suiiicient to receive a small stack of cards sidewise.

8. A card game playing surface comprising a square of cloth, a triangular patch secured to the converging edges thereof at each corner, each said patch forming with the square a card receiving pocket, and a pair of superimposed strips secured to each edge. of the square medial of its ends, the lower of said strips being wider 5 than the upper and being secured at intervals tp the square by spot stitching to form with the square a plurality of pockets each o! a size subcient to receive a small stack o! cards endwie but wo small to receive a stack sidewise. and said upper strip being secured at intervals to the lower by spot. stitching to form a plurality of pockets of a size sufficient to receive a. small stack of cards sidewise, and a. plurality of elastic bands secured to the edges of said square one 10 near each corner, said bands being adapted to se cure the surface in piace.

HENRY FOX.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this paient: 2 1

UNITED STATES PA'I'EN'rs Waters May 8, 1932 

